Once in a theatre comic 'Tween acts I pondered to see On a column sculptured, wide and comic The grinning mask of Comedy And broad and wild in satyr-glee The grinning face of Comedy Ah, said I, face merry and comic There is happiness in thee Few faces like thine, wide-mouth'd and comic Oh, grinning face of Comedy Boisterously wrinkled, ugly and free The grinning mask of Comedy Worn, hysterical, mad, unfree Woe-twisted face of Comedy